Andre Previn, Previn Plays Gershwin (1971)

I hadn’t thought about this album in a long – long – time. Because now I’ve got all my classical records separated – only for the fact that the cabinet the stereo sits on (and in) is an old fashioned type with the cupboard for a few records. I guess, for many, it stored the whole collection. Doesn’t seem like it could have ever been enough.  But it’s enough to fit most of my classical albums and so most of them are there. That’s where they live. But then I forget about them, even though they’re right there. The other day I fished this one out – and played it for the first time in years. But it came flooding back – it always does/they always do. This one was bought – $1 for the LP – in my first year at university. Somewhat desperate to educate myself about classical music in some way I bought Nigel Kennedy’s autobiography (for $2). And the back section of it had some chapters where Kennedy talked about favourite composers, offering something of their story. This was very helpful to me. I set out from there. And picked up what I could. This album was one of the very first classical records I bought. Obviously I knew Gershwin – and I knew Previn. And it was about going with the names you knew and pieces you knew to start with. Branching out from there. (Which I sometimes do). There’s still so much to take in from what I do know – especially when I keep it so well hidden (right under my nose). Always liked the cover to this…

Sample Track: Piano Concerto In F

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown